In a 26 May 1998 telephone interview, the secretary general of the Malian Human Rights Association (Association malienne des droits de l'homme, AMDH) stated that freedom of religion is guaranteed under the Malian Constitution and respected by the population. People can change their religion without worrying about the reaction of the Malian government or the community in general (ibid.). According to the secretary general of the AMDH, Mali is a secular state, and religion is strictly a private matter (ibid.). The AMDH is affiliated with the International Federation of Human Rights Leagues (Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l'homme, FIDH) and the Inter-African Union of Human Rights (Union interafricaine des droits de l'homme, UIDH).

The president of the Association for the Progress and Defence of the Rights of Malian Women (Association pour le progrès et la défense des droits des femmes maliennes, APDF) stated in a 26 May 1998 telephone interview that conversion from one religion to another is a common phenomenon in Mali. This changing of faith is done especially in cases of mixed marriages where one of the spouses wants to adopt the religion of the other (ibid.). While conversions from Islam to other religions are rare, the reverse is much more common in Mali (ibid.). The president pointed out that it is possible for a woman from a fundamentalist Muslim community to be mistreated and rejected by the members of her family if she adopts another religion (ibid.). However, the APDF has never been presented with a case involving mistreatment, either by the authorities or by one of the Malian communities, of a person who has given up the Muslim faith or changed religion (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Association malienne des droits de l'homme (AMDH), Bamako. 26 May 1998. Telephone interview with secretary general.

Association pour le progrès et la défense des droits des femmes maliennes (APDF), Bamako. 26 May 1998. Telephone interview with president.